How To Check Out The Alternator On Your Car

Emmy Award Winning mechanic Scotty Kilmer shares his 41 years of repair experience, showing how to check out an alternator in your car. For absolutely free expert car advice, visit www.scottykilmer.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• alternator
• car
• repair
• expert
• mechanic
• advice
• questions
• answers

[SourDiesel400]

Scotty, I've noticed lately that my headlights are kind of dim (new bulbs), and my interior/dash lights are not as bright as they used to be. Also, the digital clock face fades in and out, but the rest of the CD player face remains lit. Could this be an alternator issue, or am I looking in the wrong direction? The vehicle is a '99 Dakota RT.

[scottykilmer]

@SourDiesel400 yep, have the alt and battery checked, places like auto zone do it free in their parking lots. Scotty

[FoxyWolfProductionz]

After seeing this i have added yet another possibility to my dilema. My horn works fine when stopped but when moving it will be hit and miss. Could this be the Alternator? I was thinking Dirty Contacts on the circuit or faulty Horn Relay. The Car is a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera S (just in case the info helps anything).

Thanks Scotty. More questions to come.

[scottykilmer]

@FoxyWolfProductionz dirty contacts on the steering wheel are more common. Scotty

[scottykilmer]

@0penminded2u Well, I just worked on a VW and a Benze yesterday. Basically, they are giant overengineered :POS made by Germans with an anal complex with their machines. If you're dumb enough to buy one of those vehicles, don't try working on em yourself, they are too complex and require too many special tools and computers to recode software when changing many parts. Only a complete ass would design such vehicles. I'm showing how to fix normal vehicles here. Scotty

[kriskinealy]

Man this guy cracks me up

[PleaseBuyMyCat]

@cb7pwn Some people donate their faulty cars so he can show us how to fix them. He's not going to take a car all the way from Japan...

[cb7pwn]

funny, all your cars that have problems are American made  .. **cough!**

[cabach34]

germans cars and japs cars #1

[armystrong8989]

scotty,...once upon i time i owned a blazer that kept blowing fuses when i put em in, never could find a short anywhere and did all sorts of crazy things to starting up by itself! i wish you were my next door neighbor

[laferriere78]

Shit Scotty, WTF! How To Check Out The Alternator On Your Car ??? Bulshit!!! You tell everybody to go get it checked, Not how to check. Change the Fkn title asshowl

[flyingmantis]

Scotty, when my engine is at idle, the battery is only measuring at 12.5 volt, however, as soon as I bring the rpm to 2000, the voltage would go up 13.6. Does this mean my alternator is not healthy and need replacing? Thanks!

[scottykilmer]

@Marshmallowrex yes, that can happen, Scotty

[scottykilmer]

@Marshmallowrex Many electrical problems can cause stuff like that, so start by having the alternator checked, places like auto zone do it free in their parking lots. Scotty